One of the key promises made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is that his government will restore Canada’s badly tarnished image on the international stage. Canada is back, says the prime minister. Canada will support global policies based on evidence and play a positive role at the United Nations. Trudeau’s pledge has been welcomed by most Canadians and by the international community.

But when it comes to asbestos, Trudeau is breaking that pledge.

Asbestos is the biggest killer of Canadian workers. The Trudeau government has prohibited use of asbestos at Public Works and Government Services Canada workplaces and indicated that it will join 55 other countries in banning asbestos.

So it is inexplicable that at UN meetings, the Trudeau government’s position is that it has not made up its mind whether chrysotile asbestos should be put on the Rotterdam Convention’s list of hazardous substances.

How can chrysotile asbestos be hazardous for Canadians and not be hazardous for people overseas?